Violet Pacileo has an English father and a Japanese mother born in Otoyo of Kochi Prefecture. Formerly a hedge fund consultant based in Tokyo, Violet felt that Otoyo had become increasingly deserted with each visit. This prompted her to open a gym facility in 2022 under the world-famous CrossFit movement as part of her efforts to revitalize the town. If this unprecedented initiative were to succeed, it would become a real-world example of how we can overcome the challenges of an aging society.

A married couple (Yancy Patrick Lever and Azusa) who first met in Mexico, run a guesthouse in a mountainous area of Kochi Prefecture. Today, people from all over the world have visited this guesthouse, which is not easily accessible by public transportation. Patrick, a carpenter, maintains the building, and grows vegetables and tea in the fields, which are also served to guests. Visitors who want to experience the beauty of Japan may want to venture beyond the crowded, famous tourist destinations and visit a place like this that preserves the simplicity of nature.

Indian national Binod Gupta moved here to the Tosa Reihoku area from Saitama Prefecture in 2017 with his wife and three children. Upon doing so, he opened a curry house on the top of a mountain. Binod and his wife work together to run the restaurant, which is popular overseas visitors. In the future, he dreams of starting his own lodging facility.

Eating delicious curry with Binod, who is always upbeat, is certain to put a smile on your face. Be sure to drop by and try some for yourself!

Kazuhito Sugawara relocated to the Tosa Reihoku region in September 2021. While working as a teacher at a public tutoring school for high school students, he also works to extract essential oil from yuzu (a citrus fruit) peels, of which large quantities are usually thrown away. Yuzu is used in Japanese cuisine and is increasingly gaining worldwide fame. Will yuzu be the catalyst for people from all over the world to visit the Tosa Reihoku region?